What does sharp mean?
Definitions for sharp
ʃɑrpsharp
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word sharp.
Princeton's WordNet
sharpnoun
a musical notation indicating one half step higher than the note named
sharpadjective
a long thin sewing needle with a sharp point
crisp, sharpadjective
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
"a sharp photographic image"; "the sharp crack of a twig"; "the crisp snap of dry leaves underfoot"
acuate, acute, sharp, needlelikeadjective
ending in a sharp point
acute, discriminating, incisive, keen, knifelike, penetrating, penetrative, piercing, sharpadjective
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
"an acute observer of politics and politicians"; "incisive comments"; "icy knifelike reasoning"; "as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang"; "penetrating insight"; "frequent penetrative observations"
astute, sharp, shrewdadjective
marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
"a smart businessman"; "an astute tenant always reads the small print in a lease"; "he was too shrewd to go along with them on a road that could lead only to their overthrow"
sharp, sharp-worded, tartadjective
harsh
"sharp criticism"; "a sharp-worded exchange"; "a tart remark"
shrill, sharpadjective
having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
"a shrill whistle"; "a shrill gaiety"
abrupt, precipitous, sharpadjective
extremely steep
"an abrupt canyon"; "the precipitous rapids of the upper river"; "the precipitous hills of Chinese paintings"; "a sharp drop"
sharpadjective
keenly and painfully felt; as if caused by a sharp edge or point
"a sharp pain"; "sharp winds"
sharpadjective
having or made by a thin edge or sharp point; suitable for cutting or piercing
"a sharp knife"; "a pencil with a sharp point"
sharpadjective
(of a musical note) raised in pitch by one chromatic semitone
"C sharp"
sharpadjective
very sudden and in great amount or degree
"a sharp drop in the stock market"
sharpadverb
quick and forceful
"a sharp blow"
sharply, sharp, acutelyadverb
changing suddenly in direction and degree
"the road twists sharply after the light"; "turn sharp left here"; "the visor was acutely peaked"; "her shoes had acutely pointed toes"
Wiktionary
sharpnoun
The symbol , placed after the name of a note in the key signature or before a note on the staff to indicate that the note is to be played a semitone higher.
sharpnoun
A note that is played a semitone higher than usual; denoted by the name of the note that is followed by the symbol .
sharpnoun
A note that is sharp in a particular key.
The piece was difficult to read after it had been transposed, since in the new key many notes were sharps.
sharpnoun
The scale having a particular sharp note as its tonic.
Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" is written in C minor (C sharp minor.)
sharpnoun
Something which is sharp.
Place sharps in the specially marked red container for safe disposal.
sharpnoun
A hypodermic syringe.
sharpnoun
A scalpel or other edged instrument used in surgery.
sharpnoun
A dishonest person; a cheater.
The casino kept in the break room a set of pictures of known sharps for the bouncers to see.
sharpverb
To raise the pitch of a note half a step making a natural note a sharp.
That new musician must be tone deaf: he sharped half the notes of the song!
sharpadverb
Exactly.
I'll see you at twelve o'clock sharp.
sharpadverb
In a higher pitch than is correct or desirable.
I didn't enjoy the concert much because the tenor kept going sharp on the high notes.
sharpadjective
Able to cut easily.
I keep my knives sharp so that they don't slip unexpectedly while carving.
sharpadjective
Intelligent.
My nephew is a sharp lad; he can count to 100 in six languages, and he's only five years old.
sharpadjective
Able to pierce easily; pointed.
Ernest made the pencil too sharp and accidentally stabbed himself with it.
sharpadjective
Higher than usual by one semitone (denoted by the symbol after the name of the note).
sharpadjective
Higher in pitch than required.
The orchestra's third violin several times was sharp about an eighth of a tone.
sharpadjective
Having an intense, acrid flavour.
Milly couldn't stand sharp cheeses when she was pregnant, because they made her nauseated.
sharpadjective
sudden and intense.
A pregnant woman during labor normally experiences a number of sharp contractions.
sharpadjective
Illegal or dishonest.
Michael had a number of sharp ventures that he kept off the books.
sharpadjective
Exact, precise, accurate; keen.
You'll need sharp aim to make that shot.
sharpadjective
Offensive, critical, or acrimonious, as sharp criticism.
When the two rivals met, first there were sharp words, and then a fight broke out.
sharpadjective
Stylish or attractive.
You look so sharp in that tuxedo!
sharpadjective
Observant; alert; acute.
Keep a sharp watch on the prisoners. I don't want them to escape!
sharpadjective
Forming a small angle; forming an angle of less than ninety degrees.
Drive down Main for three quarters of a mile, then make a sharp right turn onto Pine.
sharpadjective
Said of as extreme a value as possible.
Sure, any planar graph can be five-colored. But that result is not sharp: in fact, any planar graph can be four-colored. That is sharp: the same can't be said for any lower number.
Etymology: From scearp, from skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from (s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin aacerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian 'notch', Albanian tharbët 'sour'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
SHARPadjective
Etymology: scearp , Saxon; scherpe, Dutch.
She hath tied
Sharp tooth’d unkindness like a vulture here. William Shakespeare.In Ireland have I seen this stubborn Cade
Oppose himself against a troop of kerns;
And fought so long, ’till that his thighs with darts
Were almost like a sharp quill’d porcupine. William Shakespeare, H. VI.Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs, like a sharp razor working deceitfully. Ps. lii. 2.
With edged grooving tools they cut down and smoothen away the extuberances left by the sharp pointed grooving tools, and bring the work into a perfect shape. Joseph Moxon, Mech. Ex.
The form of their heads is narrow and sharp, that they may the better cut the air in their swift flight. More.
There was seen some miles in the sea a great pillar of light, not sharp, but in form of a column or cylinder, rising a great way up towards heaven. Francis Bacon.
To come near the point, and draw unto a sharper angle, they do not only speak and practise truth, but really desire its enlargement. Thomas Browne, Vulgar Errours.
Their embryon atoms
Light arm’d or heavy, sharp, smooth, light or slow. John Milton.It is so much the firmer by how much broader the bottom and sharper the top. William Temple.
In shipping such as this, the Irish kern,
And untaught Indian, on the stream did glide,
Ere sharp keel’d boats to stem the flood did learn,
Or sin-like oars did spread from either side. Dryden.Now as fine in his apparel as if he would make me in love with a cloak, and verse for verse with the sharpest witted lover in Arcadia. Philip Sidney.
If we had nought but sense, each living wight,
Which we call brute, would be more sharp than we. Davies.Sharp to the world, but thoughtless of renown,
They plot not on the stage, but on the town. Dryden.There is nothing makes men sharper, and sets their hands and wits more at work, than want. Joseph Addison, on Italy.
Many other things belong to the material world, wherein the sharpest philosophers have never yet arrived at clear and distinct ideas. Isaac Watts.
As the sharpest eye discerneth nought,
Except the sun-beams in the air do shine;
So the best soul, with her reflecting thought,
Sees not herself, without some light divine. Davies.To sharp ey’d reason this would seem untrue;
But reason I through love’s false opticks view. Dryden.So we, if children young diseased we find,
Anoint with sweets the vessel’s foremost parts,
To make them taste the potions sharp we give;
They drink deceiv’d, and so deceiv’d they live. Fa. Qu.Sharp tasted citrons Median climes produce;
Bitter the rind, but generous is the juice. Dryden.Different simple ideas are sometimes expressed by the same word, as sweet and sharp are applied to the objects of hearing and tasting. Isaac Watts.
In whistling you contract the mouth, and, to make it more sharp, men use their finger. Francis Bacon, Nat. History.
Let one whistle at the one end of a trunk, and hold your ear at the other, and the sound strikes so sharp as you can scarce endure it. Francis Bacon.
For the various modulation of the voice, the upper end of the windpipe is endued with several cartilages to contract or dilate it, as we would have our voice flat or sharp. John Ray.
If he should intend his voyage towards my wife, I would turn her loose to him; and what he gets more of her than sharp words, let it lie on my head. William Shakespeare.
How often may we meet with those who are one while courteous, but within a small time after are so supercilious, sharp, troublesome, fierce and exceptious, that they are not only short of the true character of friendship, but become the very sores and burdens of society! South.
Cease contention: be thy words severe,
Sharp as he merits; but the sword forbear. Dryden.There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee;
And to that place the sharp Athenian law
Cannot pursue us. William Shakespeare.My faulcon now is sharp and passing empty,
And, ’till she stoop, she must not be full gorg’d;
For then she never looks upon her lure. William Shakespeare.The sharp desire I had
Of tasting. John Milton.That she may feel
How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is,
To have a thankless child. William Shakespeare, King Lear.He caused his father’s friends to be cruelly tortured; grieving to see them live to whom he was so much beholden, and therefore rewarded them with such sharp payment. Richard Knolles.
Death becomes
His final remedy; and after life
Try’d in sharp tribulation, and refin’d
By faith, and faithful works. John Milton, Paradise Lost, b. xi.It is a very small comfort that a plain man, lying under a sharp fit of the stone, receives from this sentence. John Tillotson.
Their piety feign’d,
In sharp contest of battle found no aid. John Milton.A sharp assault already is begun;
Their murdering guns play fiercely on the walls. Dryden.Sharp at her utmost ken she cast her eyes,
And somewhat floating from afar descries. Dryden.Is a man bound to look out sharp to plague himself, and to take care that he slips no opportunity of being unhappy? Collier.
A clergyman, established in a competent living, is not under the necessity of being so sharp and exacting. Jonathan Swift.
The windpipe is continually moistened with a glutinous humour, issuing out of small glandules in its inner coat, to fence it against the sharp air. John Ray.
Nor here the sun’s meridian rays had pow’r,
Nor wind sharp piercing, nor the rushing show’r,
The verdant arch so close its texture kept. Alexander Pope, Odyssey.Sharp and subtile discourses procure very great applause; but being laid in the balance with that which sound experience plainly delivereth, they are overweighted. Richard Hooker.
The instances you mention are the strongest and sharpest that can be urged. Digby.
They make use of the sharpest sand, that being best for mortar, to lay bricks and tiles in. Joseph Moxon, Mech. Exer.
His visage drawn he felt to sharp and spare. John Milton.
Sharpnoun
Etymology: from the adjective.
It is the lark that sings so out of tune,
Straining harsh discords and unpleasing sharps. William Shakespeare.If butchers had but the manners to go to sharps, gentlemen would be contented with a rubber at cuffs. Collier.
To Sharpverb
To make keen.
Etymology: from the noun.
Whom the whetstone sharps to eat,
They cry, milstones are good meat. Ben Jonson.To Sharpverb
To play thievish tricks.
Etymology: from the noun.
I live upon what’s my own, whereas your scandalous life is only cheating or sharping, one half of the year, and starving the other. Roger L'Estrange.
ChatGPT
sharp
Sharp generally refers to an object that has a thin edge or a fine point capable of cutting or piercing. It can also refer to a trait or quality that is distinct, well-defined, clear, or keen. Additionally, it can describe something having a sudden or abrupt occurrence, like a sharp noise. In music, a sharp note is slightly higher in pitch, while in intellectual terms, a sharp mind refers to high mental acuity.
Webster Dictionary
Sharp
having a very thin edge or fine point; of a nature to cut or pierce easily; not blunt or dull; keen
Sharp
terminating in a point or edge; not obtuse or rounded; somewhat pointed or edged; peaked or ridged; as, a sharp hill; sharp features
Sharp
affecting the sense as if pointed or cutting, keen, penetrating, acute: to the taste or smell, pungent, acid, sour, as ammonia has a sharp taste and odor; to the hearing, piercing, shrill, as a sharp sound or voice; to the eye, instantaneously brilliant, dazzling, as a sharp flash
Sharp
high in pitch; acute; as, a sharp note or tone
Sharp
raised a semitone in pitch; as, C sharp (C/), which is a half step, or semitone, higher than C
Sharp
so high as to be out of tune, or above true pitch; as, the tone is sharp; that instrument is sharp. Opposed in all these senses to flat
Sharp
very trying to the feelings; piercing; keen; severe; painful; distressing; as, sharp pain, weather; a sharp and frosty air
Sharp
cutting in language or import; biting; sarcastic; cruel; harsh; rigorous; severe; as, a sharp rebuke
Sharp
of keen perception; quick to discern or distinguish; having nice discrimination; acute; penetrating; sagacious; clever; as, a sharp eye; sharp sight, hearing, or judgment
Sharp
eager in pursuit; keen in quest; impatient for gratification; keen; as, a sharp appetite
Sharp
fierce; ardent; fiery; violent; impetuous
Sharp
keenly or unduly attentive to one's own interest; close and exact in dealing; shrewd; as, a sharp dealer; a sharp customer
Sharp
composed of hard, angular grains; gritty; as, sharp sand
Sharp
steep; precipitous; abrupt; as, a sharp ascent or descent; a sharp turn or curve
Sharp
uttered in a whisper, or with the breath alone, without voice, as certain consonants, such as p, k, t, f; surd; nonvocal; aspirated
Sharpadverb
to a point or edge; piercingly; eagerly; sharply
Sharpadverb
precisely; exactly; as, we shall start at ten o'clock sharp
Sharpnoun
a sharp tool or weapon
Sharpnoun
the character [/] used to indicate that the note before which it is placed is to be raised a half step, or semitone, in pitch
Sharpnoun
a sharp tone or note
Sharpnoun
a portion of a stream where the water runs very rapidly
Sharpnoun
a sewing needle having a very slender point; a needle of the most pointed of the three grades, blunts, betweens, and sharps
Sharpnoun
same as Middlings, 1
Sharpnoun
an expert
Sharpverb
to sharpen
Sharpverb
to raise above the proper pitch; to elevate the tone of; especially, to raise a half step, or semitone, above the natural tone
Sharpverb
to play tricks in bargaining; to act the sharper
Sharpverb
to sing above the proper pitch
Freebase
Sharp
In music, sharp, dièse, or diesis means higher in pitch and the sharp symbol raises a note by a half tone. Intonation may be flat, sharp, or both, successively or simultaneously. More specifically, in musical notation, sharp means "higher in pitch by a semitone," and has an associated symbol, which may be found in key signatures or as an accidental, as may flats. Under twelve-tone equal temperament, B sharp, for instance, sounds the same as, or is enharmonically equivalent to, C natural, and E sharp is enharmonically equivalent to F natural. In other tuning systems, such enharmonic equivalences in general do not exist. To allow extended just intonation, composer Ben Johnston uses a sharp to indicate a note is raised 70.6 cents, or a flat to indicate a note is lowered 70.6 cents. In tuning, sharp can also mean "slightly higher in pitch". If two simultaneous notes are slightly out of tune, the higher-pitched one is said to be sharp with respect to the other. Furthermore, the verb sharpen means "raise the frequency of a note, typically by a small musical interval".
Dictionary of Nautical Terms
sharp
Prompt and attentive.--Be sharp! Make haste.--Look sharp! Lose no time. Also, an old term for a sword.
Military Dictionary and Gazetteer
sharp
Fierce; ardent; fiery; violent; impetuous. “In sharp contest of battle.”
Entomology
Sharp
with a pointed tip or thin edge; opposed to blunt.
Surnames Frequency by Census Records
SHARP
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Sharp is ranked #405 in terms of the most common surnames in America.
The Sharp surname appeared 78,990 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 27 would have the surname Sharp.
83.5% or 66,012 total occurrences were White.
10.5% or 8,341 total occurrences were Black.
2.3% or 1,840 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
1.9% or 1,532 total occurrences were of two or more races.
1% or 806 total occurrences were American Indian or Alaskan Native.
0.5% or 466 total occurrences were Asian.
Matched Categories
British National Corpus
Spoken Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'sharp' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2315
Written Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'sharp' in Written Corpus Frequency: #3415
Adjectives Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'sharp' in Adjectives Frequency: #306
Anagrams for sharp »
harps
shrap
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of sharp in Chaldean Numerology is: 1
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of sharp in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8
Examples of sharp in a Sentence
There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept.
It does not take sharp eyes to see the sun and the moon, nor does it take sharp ears to hear the thunderclap. Wisdom is not obvious. You must see the subtle and notice the hidden to be victorious.
Only as you do know yourself can your brain serve you as a sharp and efficient tool. Know your own failings, passions, and prejudices so you can separate them from what you see.
The sharp employ the sharp.
They consider me to have sharp and penetrating vision because I see them through the mesh of a sieve.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
Translations for sharp
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- حادArabic
- башлы, аҡыллы, зирәк, үткерBashkir
- во́стрыBelarusian
- остърBulgarian
- esmolatCatalan, Valencian
- bystrý, ostrý, -is, přesný, s křížkem, křížek, přesněCzech
- spids, skarpDanish
- scharf, -is, stechend, hoch, spitz, scharfsinning, ErhöhungszeichenGerman
- απατεώνας, κοφτερός, έντονος, αψύς, οξύνους, έξυπνος, δίεση, οξύς, αιχμηρός, οξυδερκής, ακριβώςGreek
- akra, intensa, diesa, inteligenta, saĝa, diesoEsperanto
- listo, afilado, agudo, filoso, agrio, sostenido, certero, en puntoSpanish
- تیز, تند, تیزهوشPersian
- huijari, tyylikäs, tarkka, kirpeä, vihlova, -is, terävä, kipakka, täsmällinen, ylävireinen, korotettu, korotusmerkki, pistävä, terävä-älyinen, teräesine, lurjus, korkea, tasanFinnish
- hvassurFaroese
- acéré, intense, âcre, âpre, coupant, vif, aigu, pointu, dièse, affilé, chic, affuté, effilé, tranchant, pile, net, serré, classe, mordant, acerbe, précisFrench
- géarIrish
- searbh, geur, sgaiteach, biorach, deas, guineach, rinn-gheurScottish Gaelic
- तेज़Hindi
- élesHungarian
- սուր, սրամիտArmenian
- tajamIndonesian
- akutaIdo
- intenso, acre, tagliente, esatto, attento, preciso, forte, losco, diesis, diesare, appuntito, intelligente, affilato, acutoItalian
- חַדHebrew
- するどい, シャープJapanese
- მახვილი, დიეზიGeorgian
- 날카로운Korean
- تیژKurdish
- acer, acutus, acriLatin
- ass, asaLatvian
- остарMacedonian
- puntig, scherpzinnig, kruis, scherp, straf, gepunt, hoog, bijtend, stekend, snerend, acuut, sterkDutch
- skarp, smart, -iss, spissNorwegian
- deeníNavajo, Navaho
- agusatOccitan
- ostryPolish
- inteligente, ponta, aguçado, agudo, pontudo, injusto, esperto, afiado, pontiagudo, fechado, velhaco, atento, trapaceiro, acre, sustenido, estiloso, em pontoPortuguese
- ascuțit, diezRomanian
- тёмный, о́стрый, шулер, смышлёный, сомни́тельный, е́дкий, -дие́з, сообрази́тельный, сметли́вый, ре́зкий, диез, то́чный, остроу́мный, ровноRussian
- оштар, oštar, povisilicaSerbo-Croatian
- ostrýSlovak
- osterSlovene
- skarp, korsförtecken, -iss, klyftig, vass, skarpsinnigSwedish
- கூரானTamil
- పదునైనTelugu
- คมThai
- diyez, keskin, tiz, sivriTurkish
- гострийUkrainian
- nhọnVietnamese
- côpant, awijhîWalloon
- 尖銳Chinese
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